Xena; warrior princess. This is the third chapter of After the Dirty Half Dozen where Glaphyra will meet again with Darnelle whilst on the sea and then get into a heavy storm which will take them to a different place in time. Again I don't own Xena or the other characters and I wanted to expand the story about their little adventures. It might not be much but I'm working on it, so please have a read into it and enjoy it.

Chapter Three

About one year later.

As the days of his travels turned into a whole year, Darnelle had travelled his way across from town to town in Athens as a free lance carpenter, taking a horse or travelling with caravans. In his hard work for a living, he became well known on the long roads across each country he walked upon.
His skills in making fancy tables, strong chairs and small toys for children were becoming well known.

After that day when Glaphyra had departed from his side, she headed off for the north regions of Greece to search for some new grounds on the horizon.
Darnelle went off on his own way on the south pathway.
Seeing a chance to take up a cause to serve the greater good in what way he may find, Darnelle looked ahead with his heart open to a new life.
In the time that took for his leg to heal up and then become strong again, Darnelle was able to walk fast as well as run across the further grounds of the region in the south though he had to use a walking stick. Every day when his leg healed more until he was able to walk again.

After that he still grew strong with each day in his age.
Upon coming to the roads of a walled up village within the south seas he took up some service to work as a carpenter for six months into a year, making new tables and chairs and selling them on the market of each town he visited in Greece which was then occupied by Rome.
Along the way across the regions of Greece he came upon a village where he met with a Greek female Blacksmith named Atalanta.
Entering an arm wrestling match with her, Darnelle lost to her because he found that she was really stronger than he would be, so he offered to do some carpentry work by fixing the roof of her workshop in exchange for her shoeing his horse.

A week after the task was done, Darnelle had a talk with Atalanta about the people that they've encountered over the years, Atalanta spoke of her encounters with Hercules which surprised Darnelle.
In the exchange Darnelle spoke of a woman named Xena Warrior princess who taught him what she knew as a warrior before he reformed and became a good man once more fighting for the greater good.
After another week spending time with his new friend the female athletic Atalanta, Darnelle decided to part ways with her to move on.
Upon saying their goodbyes to each other Atalanta went back to her Blackshith work at her home whilst Darnelle travelled along the western regions of West Thrace and then further on to the countryside of Macedonia.

In his spare time he carved a few wooden animals to sell to children and their families which then became a successful business in the village. Most of the villagers loved him so for his talent and he was able to make enough money to buy a room at the local inn.
And in the time he did the work on shelves for those who require a good shelf for scrolls and pots, and at one point in exchange for the hard work at the library he was tutored into reading scrolls and writings of other languages which he found difficult and useless at first but then as he saw a young girl who was learning to read a letter, he realized that maybe one day he might teach a girl to read so that she can read any messages to her.
So he took a moment to rest his mind before he continued to learn to read and write with his hand. With the time given to him and his newly found confidence in himself, Darnelle had to push himself further into honing his reading skills, so that he can read and write as well as any person in any town.
Within the months that passed, he had gained some additional abilities that made him bright and worthy than any prince in the whole kingdoms who had many things at their hearts desire. His mind had changed with each of the days he spent until he surpassed his teachers and found nothing else to learn anymore.
But every now and again, he had to take up fighting against bandits and act like a macho to impress the girls of the villages.
Darnelle even used his skills as a gladiator in aiding other villagers in defending their homes against invaders and raiders from foreign lands.
But sadly Darnelle had to leave so as to avoid the armies of Rome who would arrest him and then later crucify him if their Emperor wished it. As he resided in a new village, he felt that he had to move on to other towns further north, so he took to the road selling small trinkets and working in carpentry in the west and north.
He then started working in the cities and Kingdoms like Rome, using his new skills to fix up roofs and houses for the citizens of those kingdoms.
But in each place he went to stayed in during the night times, Darnelle had learnt more about the stories of Xena and Gabrielle from their endless deeds across the Greek regions of East Thrace and Athens as well as in the further lands of Gaul and Britannia.

Athens, Greece.

It wasn't until whilst he was travelling further into the streets in the city of Athens, he immediately bumped into Xena herself.
Stopping his horse on the road to Athens, Darnelle spoke out addressing his old comrade in arms.
"Xena the warrior princess, its been a long time since the battle of Potedaia when your friend Gabrielle saved my life."

Xena drew a smirk upon her face before she spoke "Darnelle, in truth it has been so long since the last time i saw your face, but unfortunately things have changed. Still its very nice to see an old comrade in arms especially after the events that have happened to me."

"Really, well why would you say that things that happened to you? I mean can you tell what happened to you in those events? and um, can I ask where's Gabrielle, the amazon princess herself?" Darnelle asked, noticing that Gabrielle the Amazon princess wasn't with her.

"I lost Gabrielle." Xena answered, looking at Darnelle's face.
The statement about Gabrielle's fate brought a shock on Darnelle as he rode by her side.
Darnelle thought he didn't hear her right, so he asked her. "What, are you saying that the amazon princess is gone?"
Xena nodded with a sad look upon her face which Darnelle could see clearly.

So Darnelle turned his head away from Xena, he looked down in hurt for a few seconds before he raised his head up to look at her.
"Oh the gods in Olympus, I can't help but to say that I'm sorry to hear that Xena. I didn't think that Gabrielle the Amazon princess and the bard herself had met her end in this time. I was beginning to think that she might have lived long enough to tell her tales and yours, what happened to her?"

Xena regained her composure before she started to explain her story to Darnelle.
"It all started on the days when we were in Britannia, we were helping a Queen of the Iceni Tribe of Britannia defend her lands against the General known as Ceaser.
Gabrielle had fallen in with a cult that had literally tricked her into helping them bring a demon named Dahawk into this world. The demon impregnated her which then resulted in a daughter named Hope." said Xena, who continued to tell the tale.

Upon hearing the spooky tale, Darnelle couldn't help but fell a sense of sorrow for the loss of Xena's friend and the bard.
She was one of a few that he admired most of all and he wanted to hear a few more of her stories from the amazon herself.
After a long time with her old friend, Xena decided to depart from Darnelle and go on the road again.
Soon after that Darnelle went on his own journey across Athens. But as he travelled across the grounds with his sack at his side, the beginnings of the Roman Empire was on the horizon and its armies were on the rise to becoming something unstoppable.
So He stayed out of the troubles of the growing roman republic. As he travelled he came to a dockside before he took a ship to sail across the Aegean sea to one of the Greek islands. He spent mostly a month in solitude in the Greek islands, but as time went by Darnelle started to think about Glaphyra and how she was faring in the grounds of Greece. So after some thought that one night on the Greek islands, Darnelle then decided to go to the ocean once more to find Glaphyra.

The Aegean seas.

It was couple of known years after going on her separate way towards the south.
Glaphyra had taken up work in a couple of jobs a free lance sea smuggler which brought her across the sea and into the new lands beyond Greece.
But after spending some time on a ship sailing across the ocean, Glaphyra learnt that the Romans were taking over the seas with its Navy ships and arresting any smugglers in the waters.
So seeing trouble on the horizon, Glaphyra decided to drop the business to take to the shore to travel along the country side and then see what kind of mischief she might get herself into. Avoiding a roman patrols that come now and again, she went into work at a local inns to work and hide.

The innkeeper and his family saw her potential and how hard working she was, so they hired her as a servant girl, she worked her share at the local inns which was met with appreciation from the innkeeper and his wife Miriam, who had grown fond of her aid and care that they became good friends.
As the days of her enduring work went on, Glaphyra had found herself hoping to make enough gold so that she can buy herself some land outside Rome's control one day and then Glaphyra can work the lands on her own after her share of adventures across the great lands.
It was during the day when she had no work as a barmaid she found she needed to do something. She decided to take up learning how to read scrolls and write, of course she had to persuade a scribe from another kingdom to teach her all the words to read.
She paid him one piece gold to keep him silent and had to use her skills with knives to convince him otherwise. Seeing that this woman was not one to take refusal, the scribe accepted her offer and proceeded to teach her the words to read.
The scribe held the lessons in the backrooms of the inn during the mornings for almost a few months so that she can practice before she started working in servitude for the local inn.
After a few months of work and learning to read, she got a little hassle before she punched a guy out for trying to grab her.
Knowing now that the troubles might come towards the good innkeeper and his family, Glaphyra had decided that it was time to leave.
She gave her apologies to the innkeeper for the trouble she had caused.
The innkeeper told her that there was no trouble at all; he gave her a small bag of gold for the journey ahead of her and he said his goodbyes to Glaphyra who returned the farewell wish, she even said goodbye to Miriam and told her that she would never forget her.
After the day of her departure, she left the village inn to travel across the roads again.
But as she went on the road again, her thoughts were dwelling on Darnelle.
It only happened from time to time as she was on the road, either on horseback or on foot.
Along the journey of her own self discovery, Glaphyra had also heard of the good stories of her friend Xena and her companion Gabrielle.
She read on stories of the journeys that they took but then got into conflict with a few Romans who were expanding their forces across the country.

It was a while long on the road as things started to change with the roman armies and their Auxiliary on the rise into the height of power, the senate was becoming so strong with the republic, its democracy and its politics grew vast expanding its power across all of Italy.
After a walk across the whole region to the north, Glaphyra was sure that she might not get anywhere with wondering across the whole of Italy with Rome on the rise in power. Seeing the dangers around her, she chose to wear a hood and cloak through out her travels until she eventually came down the shorelines lands of Greece in the south.

Once on the pier, she bought a boat so that she can travel across the Aegean
Taking the boat into the Aegean, she sailed across the flat oceans with the sun shining over the sea as she glided the way across to the other side, the boat was getting close to the shore when she took the sails down to reduce its speed and allow it to slowly park into the side of the pier.
But as the boat was coming up to the side of the Pier, Glaphyra looked around the shores and along the docks when she noticed a Roman ship had parked by another pier two blocks along the dock.

Knowing that a roman patrol was in the area, that they might recognize her as the smuggler, Glaphyra took on her hooded disguise and then kept her head down so that she won't attract any unwanted attention.
Glaphyra's boat was just floating a few more steps away after passing by the roman ship when one such roman warrior suddenly took a notice of her and then he stood up to go and alert the captain. Realizing that they will catch her, she turned her boat around and started rowing it back to the sea to get away from the Romans.
As her boat was catching the winds in its sails, it was picking up the speed and Glaphyra knew that she might have a chance at out-sailing the Romans who were just getting their ship ready to go out after her when she noticed another ship coming to the side.
she turned the rudder to the starboard side to turn the boat left so that she won't wind up crashing her boat into the side of the ship. Soon she managed to said along the side of the large boat as it sailed straight, Glaphyra turned her head to look up on the top of the boat when her eyes caught the sight of a familiar face she recognized but the man himself had no beard.
He had an almost handsome look upon his face when he turned his head to see her boat.

"Ahoy there!" he called out to her as her boat continued to sail along the side, Glaphyra suddenly recognized his voice which belonged to her old friend and the macho lug known as Darnelle the Gladiator himself.
He waved out to her to get her attention when she turned around.
Standing up on the boat she called out to him. "Ahoy there Darnelle!"
Hearing the sound of Glaphyra's voice made Darnelle freeze on his feet.
He thought that she might have forgotten his name throughout the years so he spoke out.
"Glaphyra, I thought you wouldn't recognize my voice from a distance. Hold on there I'll throw you a rope, you can climb aboard the boat."

Grabbing a rope, Darnelle tied one end to the barrier and then he tossed the other end out towards Glaphyra's boat. As the rope flew out with the winds, Glaphyra reached out with her own hands, she caught the end of the rope in her hands before she had pulled on the rope.
As soon as the boat was close to the side, she tied the length to the nozzle on the Boat's bow. She had just tied the second knot when someone dropped the rope ladder from the ship starboard side to the boat, as Glaphyra turned around she sat the ladder.
She looked up to see Darnelle standing at the bulwarks, looking down to her.
Smiling at him, Glaphyra then gathered her things and threw them up towards Darnelle who caught them and placed them on the ship.
Once the boat was empty, and her small bag was resting on her back, Glaphyra climbed up the ladder to boarder the ship.

Just as she was nearing the bulwarks of the ship, Darnelle's hand reached out to Glaphyra. "Do you need a hand? Welcome aboard the ship Glaphyra." She drew a small grin at him.
She continued to climb up until she reached the top, she pulled herself over the banister, boarding the decks of the ship whilst Darnelle stood back.
Once on-board the ship, Glaphyra picked up her bag lying upon the decks before she looked up at Darnelle, who looked back at her.
"What is it?" she asked. He spoke with his arms crossed.
"I must say that its nice to see you again Glaphyra the warrior, the times of those years we were apart have been so good to you when I last saw you although you haven't changed a bit."

"Well thank you Darnelle, but there's no need to be sweet on me." Glaphyra said with a cynical smirk on her face.
"Actually I was being honest with you Glaphyra, I haven't forgotten how strong and stubborn you are as a person, but it does make you who you are." Darnelle said to Glaphyra, who had suddenly become intrigued by his kind words.
"There has been some things about me that have changed when we were apart. Still I have to say that your personality and your ego has seemed to change somehow. What happened to the manly man Darnelle I first met when we joined forces with Xena and Gabrielle?" Glaphyra said.
Darnelle drew a grin at that compliment before he spoke to her. "It took me a while of travelling to learn how to change myself and I wanted to treat women as equals and to be open to the ideas of other people. I took this job on the merchant ship only last month not only to sail across the world but to raise enough gold in my coffers so that I can buy some land in the country and maybe live a life of peace. Probably something you might want for yourself if you've had enough of wandering."

"Well that sounds ambitious." Glaphyra said in a less impressed manner. "Yes and its not much really but seeing the whole other parts of the world that were so different to me, I decided to take up learning along the way. So may I show you to down below decks?" said Darnelle.

Glaphyra drew a small grin before she spoke.
"Yes please lead the way." Darnelle gave a nod before he then led the way whilst Glaphyra walked by his side.
As they went towards the stairs and descended to the low decks of the ship, Glaphyra became curious about what Darnelle had done.
"So tell me Darnelle, what sort of learning have you taken up since the last time I saw you?" Glaphyra asked.

"I decided to learn how to read words and to write them down on scrolls, it was hard at first but I pushed myself to learn what i can. I was hoping to teach a woman that I'd fall in love with to read my words so that she can read any messages or scrolls of my days that I might send to her when I am abroad in a foreign country." Darnelle explained to Glaphyra who was finding it laughable that the man at her side was looking to teach her to read love letters.

"Oh, sounds like you wish for this one special girl or woman to read your messages of love so you can win her over." Glaphyra teased Darnelle.
He squinted his eyes at her cheeky tease but regained composure.
"Maybe but I also wanted her to hear about my pains, but i was hoping to teach her to write words so she can reply to me with a message in her own words." Darnelle said to Glaphyra, who found it appealing but humorous that he might teach a girl to write a word like a bard but then it reminded her of Gabrielle who was good at writing stories.

Looking to change the subject, Glaphyra spoke of a thought on her mind."As for the parts of the world, we can almost agree upon, but the world of Greece has changed because of this new republic of Rome expanding its borders. These men are just eager to make themselves masters of all things here."

"Yes, that part is true Glaphyra, the crew of this ship had at least some business with the Romans because of what they told me during the week of the voyage.
The Romans and their military forces have been levelling us out with taxing on supplies and shipments. Their commanders would be asking for permits to salvaging supplies and transporting goods across the sea itself on an odd day when we would reach the ports.
At least some men of this crew can pay as much as they can afford, um can I ask have you been on some troubles with any Romans?" Darnelle asked, they slowed their pace as they were getting near to the bows of the ship.
Glaphyra lowered their head to think as they walked side by side across the hallway of the ship. She spoke. "I haven't done anything lately but Its been getting hard for me to take up work as a smuggler and a Slave trader because most of the Romans and their forces have taken women as slaves these days. But some of them are thieves in themselves so I had to take up work elsewhere."

"Well I know its out of sorts but if you're still interested, I can maybe arrange for you to work on the ship with me, you and I could work together as a couple of smugglers. I can vouch for you as my new business partner." said Darnelle, stopping her half way so they could face one another and talk. Glaphyra looked at Darnelle's face to see that he was serious about become business partners with her, she turned from his face and then she thought it out for a moment whilst they stood with one another.
She looked at him and spoke. "Let me think about it, I'll let you know when I'm better rested."
Darnelle drew a small grin before he spoke, "If there was any woman like you, I could not admire her any less. I hope you can agree to my offer, we can still make a great partnership again and you and I could be free together."
"You flatter yourself Darnelle." Glaphyra spoke in sarcasm.
Laughing at the remark, Darnelle then gave his last remark to Glaphyra. "And you used to be a fierce warrior and a slave trader with a skill for sharp daggers, I will look forward to hearing your answer later on when you've rested."
With that she took the stairs down below the decks so that she can settle in and rest for the while.

A Few days later on the open seas.

As the ship's been sailing for the past week, Glaphyra had been able to gain her sea legs within two and a half days as she aided a few members of the crew in running the ship along with Darnelle.
When she met with Darnelle after settling down in the bows of the ship and rested well with the ship's rocking last night. She looked up at his clean shaven face before she spoke.
"Darnelle, Is it okay that we talk at the corner."
Darnelle nodded before she walked towards the starboard side.
Once they came to the corner, Darnelle turned to face Glaphyra. He spoke. "So what is that you wish to talk to me about Glaphyra?" Turning away to look at the view of the sea, Glaphyra answered him.
"I've been thinking about what you said a few days ago. I have decided to take you up on that offer to work on the ship."
"Well that's good news to me, and I hope that you'll be a good addition to the crew. But I should want you that the tasks will be very difficult during the rough times on the sea." Darnelle said to Glaphyra who drew a smirk in her face and then replied to him.
"I believe I can handle the sea Darnelle."

"Very good, then welcome aboard this ship Glaphyra." Darnelle remarked to Glaphyra who nodded her thanks.

They shook hands in agreement before Darnelle looked upon her ear, which had the earring that he gave her before she parted a year ago.

"I'm glad that you kept that earring I gave you a long time ago." Darnelle said. Glaphyra reached up and touched the earring as she spoke.
"Well it suited me since it was made for ears, so I pierced my ear myself to fit the earring on. I never took it off ever since Darnelle. Shall we get on with work on the ship?"

Darnelle nodded before he walked across the decks with her. As Darnelle confided with her on each of the duties on the ship, she listened to and learned about the job itself but when she rejected a few of those duties, the two reached a compromise so he can take some of her duties.
Following days, Darnelle and Glaphyra had worked hard together maintaining the ship along with its crew and the two had received their payments from the ship's captain for the following month that had come after that day of their reunion.
But on the one day when they made it across a storm, they praised one another for their success. Before long after their exchange of praises to one another, Glaphyra and Darnelle had shared an embrace which suddenly caused some feelings of comfort and attraction between them.
Finding herself speechless in the embrace, Glaphyra withdrew from Darnelle who stood looking speechless himself. Looking to avoid the embarrassment, Darnelle and Glaphyra turned away from one another, they walked off to go and do some other sea duties. And then it was after that day with Glaphyra, Darnelle started working on his knots on the ships sails.

As he worked on the knots, he suddenly realized that he is growing some feelings for the comrade that he has shared his adventures with.
Whilst Darnelle was standing contemplating on his feelings, Glaphyra was also having some wonders of her own feelings for him as well, was she beginning to fall for him? Has he really changed his ways to see her in a different light?

Eastern seaport

After some time along the voyage across the ocean, the ship had reached the next port along the eastern ports. The Crew were hoping for shore leave as much as Glaphyra was eager to walk on land so she can gain a chance to think on her own feelings.
As soon as the ship was parked into the side of the pier, some of the crew members on the ship worked to set the gangplank. Others including Darnelle got to work on the ship to secure the aft and bows to the side of the pier whilst Glaphyra worked to set the gangplank across the middle of the pier.
Soon enough after the ship had docked itself at the pier, the crew then gathered their belongings they had carried on board and then crossed the gangplank towards the pier on the other side.
Glaphyra was one of the crew to cross before Darnelle had emerged from the bows of the ship.

With his belongings in his bag Darnelle had followed the crew to the pier.
When they were both on the pier, Darnelle and Glaphyra met up and walked side by side. They crossed the pier towards the main land when Darnelle looked at Glaphyra before he spoke.
"Aren't you glad that you're now going to walk on land?"

"I'll be more glad to be inside a shelter and to rest on a comfortable bed." said Glaphyra.
Darnelle looked at Glaphyra with a small grin as if she had the same thought on his mind. Turning his head to the front Darnelle faced forward as the two continued their walk towards the town. But Darnelle stopped in his tracks before he reached out and grabbed onto Glaphyra's arm.
"Wait Glaphyra." said Darnelle. Glaphyra turned her head to look at Darnelle, who was looking directly at something that looked like trouble.

Following the direction of his sight on the end of the pier, she saw a group of Roman soldiers with their officer at the front, they standing at one of the posts near the pier. Glaphyra realized that they might be in trouble, looking up to Darnelle and then down to the water.
Darnelle followed her sight to realize that she has an idea.
"You thinking what I'm thinking Glaphyra?"

Glaphyra drew a sly grin before she nodded and the two of them went to the side of the pier and jumped into the water. They landed in the water as they dove in feet first, before the Romans caught up.

When they had come to where Glaphyra and Darnelle jumped, the Romans saw that the fugitives had disappeared in the water.
Seeing that they could not find them in the water, the Romans turned away letting the two drown in the watery grave.

Under the water, Darnelle and Glaphyra were swimming throughout the sea and they swam for a short while before they resurfaced in a small cavern which had enough air for the both of them to take. As they breathed a little for a short while, Darnelle looked at Glaphyra before he spoke.
"Well that was a close one." Glaphyra laughed and then replied.
"If they came further, We'd be in chains dragged into another prison cell."

"I'm glad we both went into the water, other wise I'd lose you for sure Glaphyra." said Darnelle.
Hearing Darnelle's fear of losing her, Glaphyra turned her head to look at Darnelle, she looked at his face in disbelief.
Surprised to see that he cared about her a lot, Glaphyra looked down at the entrance of the cavern as she thought.
"We better get out of this place, the Romans should be gone soon after we had." she said as she was about to dive in.

Needing to say something, Darnelle spoke. "Wait Glaphyra, I know that you still think of me as a man with an ego. But things aren't really the same since I last saw you." Hearing that things have changed, Glaphyra looked at Darnelle closely before she asked.
"Really, so have you gone a little soft since I last saw you Darnelle?"

Darnelle's eyes looked down as he thought about what else to say before he spoke. "I just had a lot to think about, but more or less I lost a battle at least eight months ago when I was residing in a kingdom, a young girl I was supposed to protect, she got herself injured during that battle."

Darnelle paused a few seconds before he spoke.
"I was lucky enough to get her out of that battle, I was able to get this young girl to a physician in her village, she managed to save her before she'd die of her wounds. Sometimes I still feel guilty after that day when I could have failed, so I swore I would let go of my ego or at least change it to care more for others than myself."

Glaphyra looked at him for a moment before she spoke.
"I never thought that one battle could change your personality, I admit to myself that I see that you have improved on yourself, I'd say the new person that is yourself is a very special person. Shall we stay here all day or get to the surface?" She then dove underwater, leaving Darnelle to look down at the water for a moment before he followed, taking a breath before diving under.

The shoreline, Later that day.

After swimming from the underwater cavern, Glaphyra and Darnelle had swam through the water towards the surface, breathing out a few small air bubbles before they had finally reached the surface and took a breath of solid air.

The two floated for a moment as they were reaching the shallow part of the sea where there was dry land at the end of the ocean.
When Glaphyra looked around, she saw the shoreline in the distance.

She began to swim her way towards it.
Seeing the shoreline as well, Darnelle followed her. But taking breaths at each time within each moment, they kept on swimming across the ocean until Darnelle and Glaphyra had come close towards the shore line.
The two continued to swim closer and closer until Darnelle had found himself standing on the shallow end with his head and shoulders coming above the water of the sea, he continued to walk across until his the water went down to his waist and that of Glaphyra who had stood up as well.
She started walking up the shallow part to the shoreline of the mainland.

The two stopped at a mile up the beach before Darnelle bent down to breathe a little whilst Glaphyra turned her head sideways to look for any patrols that might be sweeping across the shore lines to the mainland, when Darnelle stood up straight he gave a sigh and he spoke.
"Well I thank the gods that we've managed to get to shore, especially now that we stand together side by side."

"If the gods were favorable to me they would turn you into a fish." Glaphyra replied with a funny remark on Darnelle.

"Or they would have turned me into a frog or a woman." said Darnelle.

"A woman? Hehehe, that will be the day. But I think it'll be a sore choice, and you might have a desire to be a different person." said Glaphyra, before she started walking forward.
Soon Darnelle followed Glaphyra and then he spoke. "You know I did mean what I have said a long time ago and a while back in the cave. I couldn't help it at all Glaphyra, because I grew to care a lot for you. Of all the women I have walked with and spent some time with, none of them are as special as the woman I stand with. I stand with you even now.
I swear this to you on my own life that I have found to have fallen in love with you."

That was when Glaphyra slowed down as Darnelle was about to pass.
But Glaphyra stopped him, she had him turn to face her, so she can looked into his eyes.
He looked at her for a moment before she reached up, Glaphyra found herself taking his head in her right hand, she pulled his head forward before she leaned upon her toes; she kissed him on the cheek.

"Here's my gratitude for your love and devotion and I shall hope that you might understand when I make the terms of the partnership between us, if you accept this and that we might live long enough I might love you back." Glaphyra stated to Darnelle who then responded to her.
"If there are any terms you wish to make, I will do best to accept them so I leave it up to you."

"Come along my friend, we have to make further ground before those Romans find us here." Glaphyra said before she then walked a few steps ahead of her.
"Whatever you say Glaphyra." he said to Glaphyra who smiled at him.
With a small grin of content for the hope in his heart, Darnelle walked up to follow Glaphyra before they had finally made a distance away from the beach and towards the inner lands beyond.
It was a short walk into the inlands when Glaphyra turned her head to catch the sight of a roman archer standing in the area who saw them.
The Roman drew an arrow from his quiver.
When the archer aimed to shoot on Darnelle, it was Glaphyra who saw him first. "Darnelle look out!" She shouted aloud.
She twisted to get in front of Darnelle, wrapping her arms around his neck Glaphyra had shielded his front. Before an arrow flew straight towards the two, Darnelle took hold of her and he twisted in front of her.

Soon when the arrow had flew straight into his back, Darnelle gasped in pain as Glaphyra looked at his sudden scared face. Seeing Darnelle, sacrificing himself to save, her, Glaphyra's face went into anger before she drew her dagger out from her sheath.
Seeing the archer in plain view, Glaphyra saw that the archer was drawing another arrow. The archer was about to lock his arrow on the base and withdraw the bowstring to shoot him again when Glaphyra held the dagger in her hand she threw it out towards the archer. Flying from her open hand, the dagger went hurling in the air until it reached the archer's neck.

Once the dagger hit home into the archer's neck, the archer dropped backwards, collapsing on the ground whilst Darnelle walked with Glaphyra at his side holding his chest to his hand as he was in pain.
The two walked slowly side by side to the clear grounds to get the bow and arrows.
Once Glaphyra had sat Darnelle on the ground whilst the arrow's end was still sticking out, she reached out and she took the bow and arrows and the archer's weapons as well. Now that she was armed with the weapons, Glaphyra went over and retrieved her dagger before she turned from the body and took Darnelle by the arm, they went running away from the dead archer to head for the nearest town or village so that Glaphyra can find a physician or someone to save Darnelle.

To be continued...

The story will continue in the newest chapter four of After the dirty half dozen where there will be some new stuff to come.
Will Darnelle survive being shot on the back? Will he be able to live long enough to share in another adventure with Glaphyra?
Stay tuned for any new developments in the meantine. Be sure to leave a comment and like this new story.